Acts 9

Acts 9 contains one of the most amazing stories in the NT, the conversion of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus. In my prayer time over this two verses stood out to me.

First, The Lord tells Ananais concerning Paul, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name".... v.16

We serve a suffering Savior. It was through suffering Jesus established his kingdom on earth. It was by enduring suffering and hardship that Paul further established the kingdom of God. It is through our sufferiing that God's kingdom will be further established on earth. I prayed the hard prayer for me, God show me how much I need to suffer, and give me the strength and ability to accept and suffer for your kingdom, for you are worthy of it. We need to pray this together as a church.

Second verse, "And laying his hands on him he (Ananias) said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” v. 17.

God sent Ananias to Paul. It was through Ananais laying hands on Paul and praying over him that he received the power of the Holy Spirit to open his eyes to Jesus, enable him to be obedient to God, endure the suffering and hardship, and proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. All throughout this chapter and the Bible people are coming to Paul's aid and assisting him. Without their help, Paul would not have succeeded.

God sent you to me. God sent me to you. God sent us to each other. To be "Ananias" to each other. To lay hands and pray over each other to receive the Holy Spirit, open our eyes to Jesus, enable us to be obedient to God, endure the hardship and suffering, and proclaim the Gospel to our neighbors. I prayed over your help for me, I need it. I prayed over my help for you, you need it. I prayer over our help for each other, we need it. I prayed over helping each other and our church to"be filled with the Holy Spirit and scales fall from our eyes to see Christ", by our commitment to participate in this 28 days of fasting and prayer.

Please share your reflections from reading Acts chapter 9. As we read through these chapters, though certain verses in each chapter stood out to me that I comment on, other verses probably stood out to you. Please share this with us.